User:Gclondon88/Peaceoholics

The Peaceoholics, Inc. is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C. committed to gang conflict resolution and the advancement of disadvantaged youth and their families throughout the country. Through the various programs that the organization offers such as prevention and intervention services in the areas of HIV and AIDS, substance abuse and family wellness, the aim is to ultimately transform youth from into drug-free and crime-free, productive members of society.

Jauhar Abraham, Co-Founder and CEO
Jauhar Abraham was born and raised in the Washington Metropolitan Area. He is a 1986 graduate of High Point Senior High School. Early on, Mr. Abraham's experience with the District of Columbia Public Schools System was challenging. At the age of nine years old, the school system presented his family with an ultimatum; partake of psychotropic medication or be expelled from the school system. His parents opted not to subject their son to a medication regime at a critical juncture of his young development.

At the age of twelve, Mr. Abraham was considered to be an "at-risk youth" as he had several minor infractions with law enforcement. His thinking and behavior was drastically re-directed as a result of reading the autobiography of Malcolm X.

Upon completion of his primary education, Mr. Abraham enlisted in the United States Army, where he studied Sociology, returning to civilian life after a four year tour. Throughout his scholarly pursuit, Mr. Abraham felt that most of the teachings were culturally biased but also discovered that the information he received lacked a certain beneficial quality that would thrust him into a position to improve the social condition of the community. Subsequently, he dedicated himself to researching the causes of poverty and the solutions to empowering those impoverished. Mr. Abraham began his first business venture, entitled Nibiru Entertainment. While developing his company he was able to travel throughout North America where he was able to see the state of affairs of the African American urban population. Saddened by what he thought were materialistic values that our youth endured, Mr. Abraham used his position in the entertainment community to turn negative circumstances into positive outcomes. As an avid reader of history and politics, he uses the gift of knowledge to reach out, reach back and uplift humanity on a local and global level.

On the local level, City-Wide Coordinating Council on Youth Violence Prevention (CWCCYVP); Violence Intervention Prevention (VIP); and Focused Improvement Area (FIA) are just a few of the tools realized by the District of Columbia via the efforts and input of Peaceoholics. Accommodations and awards:
 * 1) 	1991 - Co-founded Unity for Prosperity located in North Carolina, which was focused on youth intervention through mentoring and entrepreneurship development.
 * 2) 	1993 - Community Liaison and Intervention Specialist for the Take Charge Program.
 * 3) 	1995 - Joined Cease Fire Don't Smoke the Brothers and Sisters, later to be named spokesperson.
 * 4) 	1999 - Founded CASASTRIDE Aggressive Mentoring Program and recruited mentors to mentor court involved youth housed at the Oak Hill Youth Detention Center and troubled youth in the public school system.
 * 5) 	2004 - Co-founded Peaceoholics Inc., specifically for combating violence among youth and promoting peace. In this capacity his efforts have been recognized in the Washington Post by Columnists Courtland Milloy and the Mayor Anthony A. Williams personally thanked him in his State of the District Address (need external links)
 * 6) 	2007 - Certified National Family Specialist - NADA International Institute
 * 7) 	2007 - Certified National Prevention Specialist - NADA International Institute
 * 8) 	2007 - White House Panelist for Violence Prevention, guest of Bob Woodson
 * 9) 	2007 - Award Recipient of Safer Communities from the Justice Department
 * 10) 	2007 - Fox 5 Emmy Nominee
 * 11) 	2008 - Search for Common Ground, International Peace Makers, Award Recipient
 * 12) 	2008 - Congressional Black Caucus Panelist for 21 St. Century
 * 13) 	2009 - Presidential Who's Who Award
 * 14) 	2009 - Nominated for Preston Global Network
 * 15) 	Recipient of 5 Proclamations from Mayor Anthony Williams and Mayor Adrian Fenty

Mr. Abraham has been recognized for his accomplishments by the media and numerous other public, private, organizations and businesses such as:
 * 1) 	Howard University School of Sociology
 * 2) 	National Trial Lawyers Associations
 * 3) 	Ballou High School
 * 4) 	Roosevelt Senior High School
 * 5) 	One Hundred Black Men
 * 6) 	NBC 4 News Community Outreach Award
 * 7) 	Radio One
 * 8) 	Fox 5
 * 9) 	NBC 4
 * 10) 	WUSA 9
 * 11) 	News Talk
 * 12) 	Night Line
 * 13) 	Reporters Round Table

Ronald L. Moten, Co-Founder and COO
Ronald L. Moten is a fifth generation Washingtonian who attended Roosevelt Senior High School. He received his GED from the state of Connecticut while incarcerated in Danbury Federal Correction Institution (FCI). Mr. Moten also attended Park Community College, in Danbury Connecticut, where he majored in History.

His college experience opened his mind to the power of change and activism through the example of leaders such Kwame Ture (Stokeley Carmichael), of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and the Rev. James Bevel. Through their leadership, Mr. Moten began to practice the principles and practices of the non-violence movement and observe the struggles of the African American community.

Immediately upon his release from Danbury FCI, Mr. Moten began his work as the Spokesperson and Outreach Coordinator for Cease Fire Don’t Smoke the Brothers. He has traveled around the country promoting peace and devising strategies to positively engage young people. Mr. Moten is a skilled trainer in conflict resolution and has negotiated many truces between both male and female gangs and crews. He has also assisted the city in developing numerous initiatives to combat violence such as: Violence Intervention Partnership, Saving Our Sisters, and Rebuild the Village.

Mr. Moten has trained government and local and national leaders on practices and strategies to develop programs and has also served as an advisor to government and national leaders to strengthen and deepen the work that supports moving young people toward success.

Currently, Mr. Moten serves as the Chief Operating Officer and Co-Founder for Peaceoholics, Inc. The non-profit organization was established in 2004 to combat violence among youth and promote peace. With over 10 years of experience in working with young people and negotiating truces between rival gangs and crews, Mr. Moten has used his expertise to develop a curriculum that focuses on community engagement through positive youth development.

As the COO, Mr. Moten is responsible for program operations of the organization and is a member of the Board of Directors. He specializes in strategically engaging youth to better understand the importance of education, peace, and economic empowerment with the goal of transforming at-risk youths into productive citizens in the Washington DC area. Mr. Moten also serves as an advocate for under-privileged youth in the community.

In addition to the other work that Mr. Moten has done, he founded a well known entertainment company to fund on-the-job training for young people. This company has also collaborated with other community based organizations, educational institutions and government agencies to promote health conscious and violence free individuals.

Mr. Moten is a proud father of two boys and one girl.

Designing and Operating Youth Programs
Serving as alternatives to detention and prevention of entry into the adult correctional system, these programs are focused on providing services to youth involved in juvenile justice systems. Current programs are centered around a “Balanced and Restorative Justice” approach teaching young people to understand the impact of their actions on their community, and offer a means to repair the harm created by illegal activities. Peaceoholics has now expanded it programs and services to youth service programs across the nation.

Establishing a Collaborative Like-minded National Network
The network supports youth programs, shares information regarding violence intervention and prevention, health and youth issues, and coordinates periodic events for members and the targeted population. Peaceoholics also continues its efforts to establish sister organizations and affiliates throughout the country and the world. The goal is to continue to promote peace, and change community norms regarding risky behaviors and conflict resolution through peer education. The time volunteered will encourage youth and adults to work cooperatively with other persons throughout the country who are dedicated to education and community involvement.

Participation in Youth Events Sponsored by Schools, Government Agencies & Non-Profit Organizations
Members of the Board of Directors, corporate sponsors, volunteers and community members continue to join forces, encouraging other community members, local, and national businesses to contribute their time and donations to assist with promoting the organization's goals. Technical assistance includes the provision of workshops, trainings, and facilitations.

Trainings and Workshops
Peaceoholics continues to reach out to various organizations and institutions providing vocational training and relevant workshops for all willing participants. Areas covered include life skills, and other specific coursework in outreach training, collegiate support, and GED classes.

Producing and Distributing Information - Creating Awareness
Peaceoholics shares multimedia information with the general public regarding healthy and effective means to peacefully resolve conflicts and maintain healthy habits. Information provided includes broadcast messages that target youth. Staff members distribute the information at local events and national conferences relating to peace efforts and youth.

Current Programs
The Peaceoholics’ Re-Entry Program utilizes the Rebuild the Village Model (RBV), Triangle in One Model, implemented by Peaceoholics Inc. to redirect challenged lives and create sustained, lasting and dependable relationships. The model allows for ordinary people to do extraordinary things within the Triangle in One. The Triangle in One has four components: the community, schools, penal intuitions and family.
 * Saving Our Sisters Program
 * Brothers Helping Brothers Program
 * General Educational Development Program
 * Re-Entry
 * Violence Intervention Partnership (V.I.P.)
 * Street Commission
 * DCPS Outreach/In-School Suspension Program
 * Community Outreach
 * Third-Party Monitoring

Current services offered through some programs

 * Youth Leadership Council
 * Peer and Family Mediation
 * Job Placement Assistance
 * Mentoring
 * Technical Assistance
 * Transition Back into the Community upon Completion of Incarceration "Re-entry"
 * Mediation Training
 * Weekend Workshops and Retreats
 * Male/Female Counseling
 * Agency Sensitizing/Partnering Training
 * Fatherhood/Motherhood Training
 * Event Coordination
 * Gang and Neighborhood Intervention
 * Crisis Intervention
 * Collaboration Coordination
 * Substance Abuse Prevention
 * Motivational Speaking
 * Youth & Parent Advocacy
 * Collegiate Support

Sponsors

 * Alliance of Concerned Men
 * ALLDAZ
 * Backyard Band
 * Casa Stride
 * Children Youth Investment Trust Fund
 * Clark Construction
 * ERCPCP
 * First Rock Baptist Church
 * The H.O.B.O Shop
 * Parent Watch
 * Parlay Inc. Travel
 * Flomarc Inc. : Web Development and Marketing
 * Path to Peace
 * Peake Mg
 * Radio One - WKYS 93.9
 * Reddoor Entertainment
 * Sasha Bruce Youths Inc.
 * Starks & Associates
 * Union Temple Baptist Church
 * Universal Madness
 * Urban Ed
 * Williams & Worth Law Firm
 * Youth In The City

Recent News & Press
Louisiana Weekly - 'Million Man March spirit still alive through 'peaceoholics' Nov. 2008

Peaceoholics on Youtube.com

Peaceholics Youtube Page

Roll Call - 'Government Must Continue Supporting Anti-Gang Programs' Jan 5 2010

The Kojo Nnamdi Show WAMU 88.5 FM June 29 2009

NPR - 'Anti-Violence Leader Readies For Next Project' Dec.10 2009

West Seattle Herald - 'Gang violence, education addressed at council meeting' April 16 2009